Jet City Improv

What Jet City Improv does

Jet City Improv is a Seattle-based nonprofit improvisational theater company founded in 1992 that operates as the production arm of Wing-It Productions, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The company runs a three-branch model spanning live performances, improv education, and community outreach. Its core offerings include fully improvised ensemble shows (Improv Game Night, DNDprov, Queerly Beloved, IndieProv), mainstage productions with production values (Emerald City Slasher, We Have Some Notes, Claim of Thrones), a 40-week training curriculum across 7 levels (Improv 101-303), drop-in community jams (Improv Dojo, REPS, PRISM, Coven, Common Ground), and corporate workshops. Operations run across two owned venues—the 40-seat Drama Room at University Heights Center and the 82-seat West of Lenin Theatre in Fremont—plus partner training locations at Seattle Center, Bellevue, and Phinney Ridge, with co-productions at ArtsWest in West Seattle and Whidbey Island Center for the Arts.

The company monetizes through a diversified nonprofit revenue model: ticket sales ($12-$25 per show with Pay What You Can and TeenTix $5 options), class tuition ($350-$475 for 7-8 week courses), quote-based corporate workshops and Comedy To Go private events, and tax-deductible donations through the Propellers Club monthly giving program. Technology infrastructure is limited to a Salesforce-based ticketing platform, Zoom and Microsoft Teams for virtual delivery, Google Forms for auditions, and standard email/social marketing channels. The organization employs 11-50 staff and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors including President Dana Panteleeff, Vice President Megan Galley, Treasurer Joe Kelley, and Secretary Nate Harris.

Jet City Improv has delivered 6,000+ performances since inception and developed 100+ original improvised play formats. Its corporate segment serves 40+ named enterprises including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Boeing, Meta, Apple, and Starbucks. The Improv4Good outreach arm reached 647 campers across 8 partner organizations in 2025, including youth with medical conditions, incarcerated teens, youth experiencing homelessness, and BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, funded through grants from 4Culture, Arts Fund, WA Arts, and Seattle Arts plus individual donations. Strategic positioning centers on a self-reinforcing ecosystem where students become performers, performers become teaching artists, and outreach builds loyal audiences — a structure that has supported continuous operation for 30+ years in the Pacific Northwest market.

Name

Jet City Improv

Legal name

Jet City Improv

Website

https://jetcityimprov.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Jet City Improv is a Seattle-based nonprofit improvisational theater company founded in 1992 that produces live comedy shows, teaches a 7-level improv curriculum, runs corporate team-building workshops for enterprises like Microsoft and Amazon, and delivers free outreach programming to underserved youth across the Pacific Northwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Improv Comedy Theater

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Improv Comedy Performances (MPAGACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Improvisational Theatre (MPAGABAJ)

Keywords

• Live improv theater
• Improv classes
• Corporate team building
• Private event comedy
• Community outreach arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from live performance tickets at two venues. Drama Room shows $12-18 standard, $5 TeenTix. West of Lenin mainstage $25 general, $20 students/seniors, $10 youth. Thursdays Pay What You Can. Shows include ensemble shows, Jet City Presents mainstage productions, and specialty formats.
2. Improv Classes and Academy: Multi-level improv training curriculum with 7 levels plus specialized workshops. Classes range from $350-$475 for 7-8 week courses. Drop-in jams like Improv Dojo ($15), PRISM, Coven, REPS (Pay What You Can $15-20). Teen workshops $35/session.
3. Corporate Workshops and Team Building: Customized team building and communication workshops for corporations. Quote-based pricing depending on group size, event length, location, and customization level. Trusted by Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Boeing, and 40+ other organizations.
4. Comedy To Go (Private Events): Traveling improv performances for private events including birthdays, company parties, fundraisers, weddings, school assemblies. Quote-based pricing. Virtual options available. Shows 25-90 minutes.
5. Donations and Propellers Club: 501(c)(3) nonprofit accepting tax-deductible donations. Propellers Club monthly recurring donations starting at $10/month with benefits including event invitations. Donations fund outreach programs, scholarships, and pay-what-you-can access.
6. Festival Workshops: Jet City Improv Festival workshops featuring nationally-known teachers. Pricing ranges from Pay What You Can to $130 for master classes. Multiple skill levels from beginner to advanced.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Jet City Improv produces fully improvised live comedy shows at two Seattle venues, delivers a multi-level improv training academy (101–303 plus drop-in jams), runs customized corporate team-building workshops and private-event performances (Comedy To Go), and operates the Improv4Good outreach program serving at-risk youth. Offerings are 100% unscripted and audience-interactive, drawing on more than 100 original improvised play formats developed since 2004.

Product overview

Jet City Improv is Seattle's premier improvisational theater company offering a comprehensive portfolio of live comedy products and services. The core offerings include: (1) Ensemble Shows - rotating mix of improvised comedy including Improv Game Night, DNDprov, Spilling Tea, and Make Us Laugh; (2) Jet City Improv Presents - mainstage fully improvised plays with production values; (3) Specialty Shows including Emerald City Slasher (murder mystery), We Have Some Notes (improvised musical), Queerly Beloved (LGBTQIA+ Pride show), and IndieProv (indie ensemble showcase); (4) Comedy To Go - private event performances; (5) Corporate Workshops & Team Building for businesses; (6) The Improv Academy - a 40-week training curriculum (Improv 101-303) plus specialized jams (Dojo, Coven, PRISM, REPS, Common Ground); (7) Test Flights - experimental format incubator; (8) Jet City Improv Festival - annual multi-venue festival with workshops; (9) Improv4Good Outreach - community programs serving youth in camps, detention, and homeless services; and (10) Venue spaces (The Drama Room - 40-seat black box, and West of Lenin - 82-seat mainstage). The organization operates as a nonprofit with 30+ years of history.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Jet City Improv Presents Mainstage Shows Mainstage fully improvised play productions featuring directed casts, genre-based formats, lighting and sound design, costumes, and audience-sourced storylines. Performed at West of Lenin Theatre for adult and all-ages audiences.
• Jet City Improv Ensemble Shows Rotating mix of fully improvised ensemble shows performed at The Drama Room, including the signature Improv Game Night, DNDprov (improvised fantasy quest), Spilling Tea, Make Us Laugh (audience-judged competition), and other limited-run formats. All created live based on audience suggestions.
• Emerald City Slasher Dark murder-comedy set in Seattle where cast members secretly learn their roles (Survivor, Victim, or Murderer) and the audience helps shape the story and votes on the killer's identity. Seasonal Halloween run.
• We Have Some Notes (Improvised Musical) Fully improvised musical show performed at ArtsWest and Whidbey Island Center for The Arts featuring entirely unscripted songs and stories created in the moment.
• Queerly Beloved (LGBTQIA+ Pride Show) Monthly Pride show featuring an all-LGBTQIA+ cast performing fully improvised comedy inspired by audience suggestions, centering queer stories, chosen family, resilience, and joy.
• Comedy To Go (Private Events) Customizable traveling improv shows delivered at private events including birthday parties, corporate retreats, conferences, school assemblies, fundraisers, weddings, and virtual events. Available in-person, virtual, or hybrid, with shows of 25-90 minutes. Over 500 organizations served in 15 years. Quote-based pricing.
• Corporate Workshops and Team Building Customized team-building workshops focusing on communication, collaboration, creativity, trust, and connection. Available in-person, virtual, or hybrid. Trusted by Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta, Apple, Starbucks, Boeing, Deloitte, and 40+ other organizations. Quote-based pricing.
• Jet City Improv Academy (Improv Classes 101–303) 40-week improv training curriculum with 7 levels spanning beginner Improv 101 ($350 / 7 weeks) through advanced Improv 303 ($425 / 8 weeks), plus intermediate levels 102–104, 201–204, and specialized workshops. Multi-location across Seattle and Bellevue.
• Teen Improv Summer Series Summer workshop series for students ages 12-18 building confidence, creativity, and performance skills through improv games, scene work, and creative exercises. Three sessions offered July-August at $35 per student, with scholarships available.
• Jet City Improv Festival (JCIF) Annual festival featuring 12-15 local and 12-15 national/international improv groups performing over 5 days at 2-3 venues every February, including workshops, performances, and the End of Festival Dust Up jam. Festival workshops feature nationally-known teachers priced from Pay What You Can to $130 for master classes.
• Improv4Good Outreach Program Community outreach program bringing free improv performances and workshops to youth facing extraordinary challenges including children in medical recovery, teens in detention, and youth navigating grief, trauma, addiction, or housing insecurity. Served 647 campers in 2025 across 8 partner organizations.
• Gift Certificates Digital gift certificates for shows, classes, and The Drama Room experiences, sold through the Salesforce ticketing platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• 647 campers and 60 teens served through outreach programs in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Camp Discovery (Epilepsy Foundation Northwest)coreOthers · 1 January 2025Annual summer camp performance for youth with epilepsy and siblings. 2025: June 29 performance with 100+ campers.
• Camp Leo for Children with DiabetescoreOthers · 1 January 2025Annual summer camp performances for youth with Type 1 Diabetes. Served both high school and middle school programs, 200+ campers combined.
• Camp EyabsutcoreOthers · 1 January 2025Healing and peer-support camp for young burn survivors. 2025 return visit at Auburn Black Diamond Camp.
• Kiwanis Camp CaseycoreOthers · 1 January 2025Mobility-focused camp serving youth with neuromuscular and physical disabilities. Visited both younger and older camper sessions.
• REACH Ministries at Camp KoreycoreOthers · 1 January 2025Supportive community for kids and families impacted by medical trauma. August 2025 performance welcomed campers into morning of laughter.
• 4CulturecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor arts patron providing funding support. Sponsors Pay-What-You-Can nights at West of Lenin Theatre, making improv accessible to all audiences.
• Arts FundcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor arts patron providing funding support for nonprofit arts programming and accessibility initiatives.
• Washington State Arts Commission (WA Arts)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerState arts agency providing funding and recognition for arts programming.
• Seattle ArtscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCity of Seattle arts funding and support for arts organizations.
• TeenTixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering $5 tickets to teens aged 13-19. Unique online advance purchase option unlike many theaters. Builds next-generation audience and accessibility.
• Broadway Bound StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost location for Teen Improv Summer Series workshops for ages 12-18.
• City of Bellevue (Parks Department)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing free weekly Teen Drop-In Improv Jam for youth ages 12-19 at Bellevue Youth Theatre. Expands geographic reach and youth access.
• Come Up ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Common Ground BIPOC wellness-centered improv sessions. Teague M. Parker guides participants in Improv for Wellness technique.
• ArtsWestcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-production partnership for We Have Some Notes improvised musical show. West Seattle venue expanding geographic reach.
• King County Juvenile DetentioncoreOthersWeekly improv workshops inside detention facility. Builds communication, collaboration, and trust. Participants receive tickets upon release.
• Hunger Intervention Program (HIP)coreOthersFree improv workshops at meal sites across North Seattle. Partners with Seattle Housing Authority sites including Bella-B Mobile Home Park, Lake City Court, Cedarvale Village, Viv Apartments.
• Sea Mar CHCS Renacer Youth Treatment CenterminorOthersBi-weekly workshops at residential treatment center for adolescent boys recovering from substance use disorders. Focus on emotional growth, communication, and self-awareness.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Second City Works: Corporate training and team-building division of The Second City, applying improv-based learning to enterprise clients. Directly comparable to JCI's Corporate Workshops offering trusted by Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Boeing, and others—Second City Works operates at larger enterprise scale.
• iO Theater (Improv Olympic): Chicago-based improv theater and training center founded by Del Close and Charna Halpern. Comparable in combining long-form improv shows, multi-level classes, and festival programming, but operates at national scale with broader brand recognition than JCI.
• The Second City: Chicago-based improv comedy institution founded 1959 with theaters, training centers, and corporate training division (Second City Works). Comparable business model combining live shows, classes, and corporate workshops, but at substantially larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Jet City Improv.
• The Groundlings: Los Angeles-based improv and sketch comedy theater founded 1974, known for sketch shows, classes, and alumni including Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig. Comparable in combining live shows, structured curriculum, and performer development pipeline.
• Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB): Improv and sketch comedy institution with theaters in NYC and LA offering shows, classes, and training programs. Comparable long-form improv orientation and multi-level curriculum, though currently undergoing restructuring.

Direct peers

• Unexpected Productions: Seattle-based improvisational theater company operating since 1983 at the Market Theater in Pike Place Market. Directly comparable to Jet City Improv as a fellow Seattle improv theater offering shows, classes, and ensemble programming in the same local market.
• ComedySportz Seattle: Short-form competitive improv comedy theater in Seattle featuring ensemble-based audience-interactive shows. Highly comparable to JCI's ensemble offerings; JCI Artistic Director Sky Boggs and Marketing lead AJ previously performed with ComedySportz ensembles.

Others

• ArtsWest: West Seattle performing arts organization partnering with JCI on the co-production "We Have Some Notes" improvised musical. Adjacent performing arts peer serving as venue and distribution partner in JCI's regional network.
• Whidbey Island Center for the Arts: Regional performing arts venue hosting JCI's "We Have Some Notes" improvised musical co-production. Comparable as a regional performing arts organization in the Pacific Northwest but focused on traditional theater, not improv.

Regional players

• Seattle Repertory Theatre: Major Seattle-based regional theater company offering scripted productions, education programs, and community engagement. Operates in the same Seattle market with overlapping customer segments and nonprofit funding model, but focuses on scripted rather than improvised theater.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/jetcityimprov
• Instagraminstagram.com/jetcityimprov
• Xx.com/jetcityimprov
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wing-it-productions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Jet City Improv